The sun is shining, the grass is growing and kids are out of school.

What better time for them to pick up a good book and read?

It’s summer time, and that means that local libraries are starting up their summer reading clubs.

The summer reading clubs are a tradition for libraries and they do a lot for children in helping them become life long readers.

According to Joe Forsee, director of Northwest Georgia Regional Library system, organized reading clubs are meant to help reduce the lost reading levels between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.

“The biggest indicator that someone will be a life long reader is if they were read to as a child, and if a child starts reading at a young age.” Forsee said, “If a parent or someone else reads to a child that is the biggest resource for a child to be a life long reader, and that’s part of the summer reading club.”

The Fairmount City Library will hold its annual Summer Reading Program for elementary and teen students each Saturday in June.

Students will need to be registered in advance to participate, and an adult must accompany all registrants. More information will be available at registration. Those interested can register at the Fairmount City Library, during normal business hours. Call 706-337-3110, for more information.

According to Forsee, the Calhoun-Gordon County Library will host the program at the Farm Bureau building, because of renovations to its library.

The first program will be held on Wednesday, June 6, at 1:30 p.m., and the second one will be Thursday, June 7, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. After those days, the program will be every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for the rest of the month, according to Forsee.

“When a child participates they receive a reading record, which helps them chart how many times they read or get read too.” Forsee said. “We hope everyone will come out and enjoys reading this summer.”